ALBANY – Gov. Cuomo’s popularity continues to be sky high despite a grueling budget fight, according to a new poll out this morning, which also found 3 out of 4 New Yorkers support a repeal of “last in, first out” teacher protections.
The statewide Siena College survey – conducted before last night’s $132.5 billion budget deal – found Cuomo is viewed favorability by 69 percent of voters, down from a record high of 77 percent last month.
Similarly, 51 percent describe the Democratic executive’s job performance as good or excellent, down from 57 percent last month. While the drop is not insignificant, Cuomo appears have fared far better than previous governors facing tough budget battles.
Last night, the Legislature agreed – in part because of Cuomo’s stratospheric popularity – to accept largely unchanged his plan to cut his way out of a $10 billion budget gap without borrowing and tax hikes.
Conventional wisdom would expect the governor’s popularity swing back upwards after such a big win.
Several of the poll’s findings, such as voters’ opposition to a government shutdown and support of an income tax surcharge on the wealthy, are moot in light of the budget deal. There won’t be a shutdown and the two-year-old “millionaire’s tax” will expire Dec. 31.
Other results might still weigh on issues left out of the budget pact, including Mayor Bloomberg’s call to repeal the 70-year-old state law that requires teacher layoffs to be done on seniority alone.
Bloomberg argues Cuomo’s budget cuts will force him to fire too many young, ambitious teachers as the city copes with Cuomo’s budget cuts, although the governor opposes an immediate repeal of the union-backed law.
The poll found voters agree overwhelmingly – 78 percent to 20 percent – that evaluations of classroom performance should be used to target teachers to fire. Cuomo says he wants evaluations to weigh on layoffs, but the process he outlined won’t be ready for months.
The survey showed New Yorkers oppose – 57 percent to 38 percent – expanded nuclear power in light of Japan’s tsunami-triggered reactor woes. Seven in 10 voters are “concerned” about the safety of New York’s three nuclear plants, including the 2,000-megawatt Indian Point 25 miles north of the city.
brendan.scott@nypost.com